closing

Fresh Produce, a Colorado-based apparel chain with a store on St. Armands Circle, filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection this week.

The retailer, which sells tropical and vibrant every day wear and sportswear for women, listed several outstanding debts, including a $3.9 million loan with Wells Fargo and an “unknown” debt for commercial rent to a Sarasota-based company, Great Lakes Developments.

The company has stores in six states, including 13 in Florida. It is unclear at this time when or if the Fresh Produce store at 1 N. Blvd Of Presidents, will close. Local staff had not been notified.

For more shopping news in Southwest Florida, follow reporter Justine Griffin on Twitter and Facebook or email her at justine.griffin@heraldtribune.com. Read What’s In Store in print on Tuesdays.

The Winn-Dixie store at 2501 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton is closing next month, along with five other stores in the chain, announced the grocer’s parent company, Bi-Lo Holdings.

The Bradenton Winn-Dixie is closing because the supermarket is considered “under performing” and is located close to another Winn-Dixie store in the region. The next closest store is at 7400 Cortez Rd. W., in Bradenton. That store was recently remodeled and reopened in November.

Winn-Dixie stores in Tampa, Georgia and South Carolina were also on the list. All stores will close before April 22.

Sarasota’s BounceU franchise intends to close Feb. 25, the owner of the popular children’s entertainment venue said in an email to customers Tuesday.

Meredith Armstrong, who has co-owned the franchise with her husband for the past five years, wrote that the community “does not at this time have the demographic to support” the facility, and the operational expenses were problematic. BounceU is a chain of indoor children’s playhouses, complete with a party playground with inflatable slides, “houses” to explore and other toys that draw raves from children.

“Truthfully renting a facility of this size and maintaining the day to day expenses is much higher than many realize,” Armstrong wrote. “I am truly heartbroken to say goodbye, but unfortunately this good thing must come to an end.”

Other children-centric ventures in Southwest Florida include Chuck E. Cheese on 44th Avenue West in Bradenton and Coconuts on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota.

Business editor Kevin McQuaid contributed to this report. Photo from Herald-Tribune archives.

For more shopping news in Southwest Florida, follow reporter Justine Griffin on Twitter and Facebook or email her at justine.griffin@heraldtribune.com.